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DIY Truck Phone Holder

Introduction: DIY Truck Phone Holder

I've been wanting something to hold my phone in my truck. Every mount option I've seen has either been too expensive or not practical. I decided to build my own with wire and epoxy putty.

Please do not use your phone while driving. Even if your phone is mounted and 'hands free' it can still be a distraction.

Step 1: Gather Materials and Tools

Materials

I got the phone holder at Liquidation Supercenter for $3.00. It's designed to clip onto a vent, and actually holds pretty good.

I got a large tube of Tech Steel for $13.00 at the auto-parts store, and only used 1/4 of it.

I had the copper wire from previous projects.

Tools

Two sets of pliers (preferably needle nose)

Knife

Drill

Screwdriver

Pencil or Marker

Ruler

Step 2: Attach Wire to Holder

I removed the rubber with a pair of needle nose pliers. I scraped some glue off of the metal tabs so the epoxy would stick better.

I wrapped a small piece of wire around the end to stop the rest of the wire from untwisting.

I bent every wire out and down to form a rose shape. It wont be pulling out of there any time soon.

To use the epoxy, you simply cut off however much you need and kneed it till its one uniform color. You have about 3-5 minutes before it hardens, so mix small amounts and work in sections.

I worked the putty into the rose shape first and then I put it inside. I bent the tabs on the phone holder in to make it a bit more compact.

I then slowly built up the shape, working the putty into the small spaces until no metal was showing.

Step 3: Take Measurements

I'm using two existing holes in my dash from the trucks previous owner.

I determined a good length of wire I wanted, and measured the distance between the holes.

Step 4: Shape Base

I put another small piece of wire around to stop it from untwisting and made the base.

I double checked my measurements to make sure there was room for the screws.

Step 5: Putty the Rest

I then slowly added putty to the base making sure to work it into the wires leaving no air pockets.

This was the longest part of the project. I built up the base adding small pieces a total of 5 or 6 times. You don't have much time to work with this stuff so don't make up a huge ball and expect to build the base in one run.

Step 6: Drill Holes and Clean Up

I measured the holes and drilled pilot holes first. The putty was still a little soft so I recommend waiting the full cure time before drilling.

I used a large drill bit to countersink the holes so the screws would be flush.

I also used my knife to cut the putty to a even shape and sanded it smooth.

Step 7: Install

It fits perfectly. I would recommend you wait the full cure time before installing so there's no chance of it sticking to your dash.